HSRD 12

Chapter 12

‘What is going on?’

I glanced at the status window floating before my eyes.

Time Remaining: 5:57:43

Plausible Fabrication
A toy created by the Guardian of the Moon for amusement.

Effect: Grants the wearer’s words a strange persuasiveness.

Duration: 2 hours
Cooldown: None

‘Strange persuasiveness…’

So my words are actually more convincing right now? That’s why the three of them suddenly accepted everything?

And the duration got extended because of the triple effect?

I looked at the three of them continuing their meal and spoke again.

“I somehow ended up winning a lot of money at the casino overnight…”

“What? Not only did you catch cheaters, you even gambled?”

My aunt’s eyes widened in shock.

I stammered out an excuse.

“Well… to enter the casino, I had to exchange money for chips, and it felt like a waste not to use them…”

For a brief moment, her expression shifted at my clumsy excuse—then she nodded.

“I see.”

“Hm, well, once you’ve exchanged for chips, you have no choice but to play.”

“Still, it’s good you won money. I thought someone as absent-minded as you would lose everything right away.”

Watching their reactions, I became certain.

‘So this is what “strange persuasiveness” means?’

No matter what excuse I give—they just accept it?

With that realization, I checked the remaining time again.

Time Remaining: 5:55:24

Now I understood why the Divine Messenger gave me this ring.

It was to help me clean up the mess I made.

‘Well… “my mess” is a stretch. I just did what the Divine Messenger told me.’

Still, whatever—it’s useful.

I also liked that the persuasiveness would remain even after the time limit.

That meant no problems later.

Before the time ran out, I quickly stood up.

“Oh! I just remembered—I have a tea appointment! I’ll excuse myself first!”

Normally, it was improper for me to leave before the head of the household.

But my uncle simply nodded without objection.

‘This “strange persuasiveness” is incredibly convenient.’

I hurried out of the dining room and called for Nora.

“I need to go to Fine’s house! Prepare the carriage quickly!”

“To the Charlotte family estate?”

“Yes! Hurry!”

While Nora went to find the coachman, I quickly fixed my hair in my room.

‘I need to meet as many people as possible before the time runs out.’

I needed to give them some kind of explanation.

I had no idea what kind of rumors were spreading about me in high society, so using Plausible Fabrication to smooth things over seemed like a good idea.

Of course, I wasn’t someone who cared much about rumors—

But if I had an item like this, why not use it?

‘Fine has a wide network. If I ask her, she’ll invite a lot of people.’

Hosting a sudden tea party at someone else’s estate was normally rude.

But I couldn’t host one at the Atlas estate.

Lily hated that idea.

Knowing my situation, Fine always kindly hosted tea parties on my behalf.

‘I’ll just rely on her again today.’

I’ll repay her properly later.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the entrance.

I quickly got in.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes, Miss Aigle!”

At times like this, having my own carriage was incredibly convenient.

The carriage quickly headed toward Fine’s estate.

* * *

Just as I expected, Fine helped me enthusiastically.

No—more than that.

Her parents, Baron and Baroness Charlotte, even stepped in and organized a large tea party using all their connections.

There, I repeated the same awkward excuses I had given my uncle and aunt—

And everyone believed me completely before leaving.

Thinking back on their innocent expressions was honestly shocking.

‘Those suspicious nobles believed all my flimsy explanations…’

As expected, an ancient artifact given by the Divine Messenger was on another level.

Though, from what I overheard, the rumors weren’t just being corrected—

They were actually growing more elaborate.

Still, since they seemed positive toward me, I decided not to worry about it.

After a storm-like afternoon, I dragged myself back to the Atlas estate.

‘Ugh… it was exhausting just refusing Fine’s parents when they tried to host a dinner banquet too.’

This fabrication effect is scary.

Still, I used the time efficiently—so it felt worth it.

I glanced at the window again.

Time Remaining: 00:05:43

‘I used it pretty well.’

On my way back to my room—

I ran into Lily, who was sitting on a sofa by the hallway window.

“Lily, what are you doing there?”

“Oh! You’re back!”

She jumped up and ran toward me.

“Big sis! Open it! Hurry!”

“W-What?”

“This! I held back out of basic courtesy, so open it now!”

She shoved an invitation into my hands.

It was black with a purple wax seal—clearly something luxurious.

I tilted my head.

“It’s for me?”

“Of course! It arrived right after you left!”

“Then why do you have it? You could’ve let a maid handle it.”

“How could I wait when I’m curious?! I’ve been holding onto it this whole time—so open it!”

“Hmm… who is it from?”

As I scratched my head, Lily smacked her chest in frustration.

“Can’t you tell from the seal? It’s the Duke of Lafmen! The Duke of Lafmen!”

“Ah—”

Sure enough, the purple seal bore a black panther emblem.

“Wow… how did they engrave such a detailed panther in such a small space? That’s amaz—”

“Ugh! Do you want me to die from frustration?!”

“Oh, sorry. That wasn’t on purpose.”

Honestly, since I already had the invitation, I didn’t feel any urgency.

Still, I opened it under Lily’s insistence.

Inside, it read:

Miss Aigle Atlas,

I would like to repay you for what happened previously.

If you are willing, I would like to invite you to our estate tomorrow.

“Hm. Short and simple.”

“……”

Well, invitations were usually like that.

Still—tomorrow?

‘Looks like the Duke has a lot to talk about with me too.’

As I folded the letter, Lily grabbed my shoulder tightly.

“I’m coming too.”

“Huh?”

“Me too! I’m going!”

Her eyes burned with excitement.

“To be invited alone to the Duke of Lafmen’s estate! You’re not planning to hog that opportunity, are you?! And tell me clearly what your relationship with him is!”

“Hmm…”

“Hurry!”

She shook me violently.

I swayed with the motion and glanced at the window.

Time Remaining: 00:00:60

“Actually, Lily… the Duke of Lafmen and I…”

“Yes! You and the Duke!”

“…have no relationship.”

“What?!”

Her brows furrowed in disbelief.

“You said you got close at the banquet!”

“We did… but we’re still nothing.”

“What does that even mean?! Then what is this invitation?!”

“Well… we’re not in any kind of relationship, but there are things we need to discuss privately. So I don’t think I can take you with me.”

“Ha! Do you even hear yourself right now?!”

“Of course.”

As soon as I said that, Lily’s fierce expression softened.

“…Now that I think about it, that actually makes sense. Fine. But next time you get an invitation, you’re taking me with you no matter what!”

“Sure, sure.”

She glared at me once, then trudged off to her room.

I waved at her slightly sulky back and looked at the window again.

Time Remaining: 00:00:03
00:00:02
00:00:01
00:00:00

The effect of ‘Plausible Fabrication’ has ended.

The window disappeared.

‘Nice. I used it efficiently until the very end.’

I returned to my room.

Nora, who had been waiting, followed me in, removed my accessories, and left.

Now alone, I collapsed onto the sofa and pressed the button on the ring.

The description appeared again.

Plausible Fabrication
A toy created by the Guardian of the Moon for amusement.

Effect: Grants the wearer’s words a strange persuasiveness.

Duration: 2 hours
Cooldown: None

Then, I opened a drawer and took out my mother’s keepsake—“Altruistic Luck.”

Altruistic Luck
A toy created by the Sun Dragon out of boredom.

Effect: Grants the wearer random luck.

Usage: Once per day
Cooldown: None

‘How did I end up with two ancient artifacts all of a sudden?’

I compared the two and shrugged.

Well, it’s not like having ancient artifacts is a bad thing.

These items were created by transcendent beings, so they contained bizarre, powerful magic.

Just like Plausible Fabrication.

‘If I use them well, they’ll be incredibly useful.’

When I first realized the regression, I actually studied ancient artifacts a lot.

I even wondered if the regression itself was caused by one.

‘Turns out it wasn’t.’

Still, I liked this reward.

But no matter how much I looked at it, I couldn’t figure out what Altruistic Luck really did.

‘Hmm… I should ask Lishian about it later.’

His parents, Baron and Baroness Sein, were renowned scholars of ancient artifacts.

Some of the books I read in my uncle’s library were written by them.

‘Ask the Seins about artifacts… and ask the Duke about the regression tomorrow.’

Though now that the regression has ended—

Do I really need to talk to him?